Throughout his 45 years in higher education, Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky, said he’s continually reminded of the transformative power of education.

“Time and time again, I’ve seen the trajectory of a family change after one of its members steps forward and gets a degree,” Capilouto said. “And I know from data that, any way you look at it, the more education you have, the better your health outcomes, your economic outcomes and your quality of life.”

Each time someone invests in their education, it has a larger, compounding effect, he said, serving to “advance Kentucky.”

In UK’s quest to help Kentuckians succeed, Capilouto said he sees a like-minded partner in KET.

“When I look at KET, it’s like I’m looking in the mirror at the University of Kentucky,” Capilouto said. “We both go after Kentucky’s most intractable problems, whether it be opioid misuse, heart disease, diabetes or Alzheimers. We both want to answer the big questions and to give Kentuckians more opportunities to improve their well-being, both for their families and for their communities.”

KET, he added, serves as something akin to a “central nervous system” for the Commonwealth.

KET is truly nonpartisan. It gives everyone equal opportunity to share their views and to have those views challenged in a serious manner that I think reflects the questions in the minds of so many Kentuckians.

Dr. Eli Capilouto
President, University of Kentucky

“KET branches out throughout all of Kentucky, and just like our nervous system has different sensory fibers, it listens to Kentucky and speaks to Kentucky with meaningful programming that reaches all age levels,” Capilouto said. “To have an entity like KET – one that’s reliable, objective and able to take the time to do a deeper review of serious subjects – it’s extraordinarily valuable.”

One of the reasons for KET’s impactful reach across the Commonwealth, he noted, is that it’s a trusted institution, one that continually meets the educational needs of Kentuckians at every stage of their lives.

Parents and caregivers trust KET for its children’s programming, with its age-appropriate, educational content, to enlighten young learners, to give them an “early start” on their numbers and letters, and to help them prepare for kindergarten.

Others trust KET for its health and public affairs coverage, programs such as Kentucky Health and Kentucky Tonight, that offer objective reporting and a diversity of viewpoints.

“I’ve watched a lot of television news programs evolve to where they’re mostly driven by perspectives or ideologies, but not KET,” Capilouto said. “KET is truly nonpartisan. It gives everyone equal opportunity to share their views and to have those views challenged in a serious manner that I think reflects the questions in the minds of so many Kentuckians.”

And KET likewise offers a convenient way to stay informed about the work of the state legislature, allowing Kentuckians to hear what’s being said in committee meetings and on the Senate and House floors, he added.

“To have that kind of rich source of dependable and reliable coverage is invaluable,” Capilouto said. “We live in an era in which, unfortunately, I think community trust is withering. So it’s important to have institutions like KET that serve the greater good, providing programming and services that connect Kentucky and strengthen communities. Those are the foundations upon which our longevity as a democracy depends.”